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Lighting Design in Practice

A practical home lighting design book that helps you understand lighting fundamentals, room-by-room planning, and the right decisions before installation.

Available in English as Kindle and paperback.

Learn BasicsAll the key lighting fundamentals explained with examples.
Practical PagesReal calculations, room examples, products, and planning notes.
Project-BasedBuilt from real LedStore.fi projects and practical results.
A residential lighting design book built from real work

A residential lighting design book built from real work

This is not a purely theoretical lighting design guide. It shows how lighting is planned in real homes, renovations, and finished spaces so that the result works in everyday life.

The book combines lighting basics, room-by-room planning, LED strip design, luminaire selection, smart lighting controls, and practical installation details. It also includes real project examples with products, drawings, and design reasoning.

If you are looking for a practical LED lighting design guide or interior lighting design guide that connects atmosphere, function, and technical decisions, this book was written for exactly that.

Inside the book

Inside the book

A quick look at the balance between technical basics and finished room examples.

  • Lighting basicsLumen, lux, Kelvin, CRI, beam angles, IP ratings, and how to use them in practice.
  • Room by room lighting designKitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, saunas, terraces, and other home areas.
  • LED lighting design guideLED strips, profiles, downlights, panels, pendants, wall lights, and track lighting in real use cases.
  • Smart lighting controls guideTRIAC, DALI, KNX, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Matter, and the practical difference between them.
Technical quick guide page from the book

From basics to execution

Fast fundamentals, target levels, and planning structure in one place.

Collage of real projects featured in the book

Real projects included

Actual homes, products, and lighting decisions show what the ideas look like in practice.

What you will learn

What you will learn

Use the book from beginning to end or jump directly into a room type, product category, or technical topic.

lx
Lighting basics

Lumen, lux, Kelvin, CRI, beam angles, IP ratings, and how to use them in practice.

RM
Room by room lighting design

Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, saunas, terraces, and other home areas.

LED
LED lighting design guide

LED strips, profiles, downlights, panels, pendants, wall lights, and track lighting in real use cases.

CTL
Smart lighting controls guide

TRIAC, DALI, KNX, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Matter, and the practical difference between them.

Book scale

Book scale

The book brings together real projects, products, cutaway visuals, and decision-making in a way you can scan quickly.

120+real-world examples and project observations
21 areasfrom bedrooms and kitchens to bathrooms, saunas, and terraces
Cutaway visualsand indirect-light installation guides for practical execution
Who this book is for

Who this book is for

The book is built for readers who want better lighting decisions without guesswork.

Homeowners, builders, and renovators

Understand lighting before ceilings, wiring, and product choices are locked in.

Interior designers and planners

Use a room by room lighting design approach with practical examples and target levels.

Electricians and technical sellers

Explain products, lux targets, and control methods more clearly to customers.

Lighting professionals

Use a concise residential lighting design book that connects concept, product, and execution.

Selected pages from the book

Selected pages from the book

These are direct screenshots from the real book pages and project examples.

Book sample page showing a minimalist kitchen in Vantaa with black islands, indirect lighting, and floor plan
Minimalist house in Vantaa An open kitchen and dining area where black islands, indirect cabinet lighting, and the matching floor plan are shown on the same page.
Book sample page showing the Eteläaho House living room with large windows, curtain lighting, and lighting plan
Eteläaho House A living room example combining full-height windows, curtain recess lighting, ceiling spots, and a reflected planning drawing.
Book sample page showing the Niittykumpu living room with dark feature wall, ceiling light lines, and room drawing
Apartment building in Niittykumpu A living room with a dark feature wall, long ceiling light lines, wall washing, and a clear room drawing side by side.
Book sample page showing an Espoo bedroom with warm indirect ceiling light and layout drawing
Stylish home in Espoo A bedroom example where warm indirect light wraps around a dropped ceiling detail and sits next to the room layout.
Book sample page showing a bedroom with indirect ceiling light, wall lights, spotlights, and plan
Modern and versatile lighting A bedroom case combining indirect ceiling light, wall luminaires, spotlights, and a detailed plan for layered lighting.
Book sample page showing a compact workstation with under-cabinet light and floor plan
Nikula House A compact workstation niche where under-cabinet task lighting and the small floor plan explain the lighting logic clearly.
Book sample page showing a bright bathroom with floor-level LED strip, indirect light, and floor plan
Inventive bathroom A bright bathroom with floor-level LED strip lighting, indirect general light, and a compact plan on the same page.
Book sample page showing the Sipoonranta bathroom with warm indirect lighting and bathroom layout
House in Sipoonranta A dark spa-like bathroom featuring warm indirect light lines, mirror-area lighting, and a precise bathroom layout sketch.
Book sample page showing a utility room with LED panels, task lighting, and floor plan
Villa Murula A utility room example where LED panels, worktop task light, and a furnished floor plan show practical lighting decisions.
Book sample page showing three sauna examples with hidden LED strip lighting behind the backrest
LED strip behind the backrest upward A three-sauna spread showing how hidden LED strips behind the backrest wash the wall and shape the atmosphere.
What topics the book covers

What topics the book covers

A fast overview of the main themes before the full table of contents.

Lighting basics
Lumen, lux, light quality, color temperature, beam angles, and practical dimensioning.
Room-by-room planning
Home lighting design for kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, saunas, terraces, and more.
LED strips and luminaires
LED strips, profiles, downlights, panels, wall lights, track systems, and other common product groups.
Controls and automation
DALI, KNX, Zigbee, TRIAC, Wi-Fi, Matter, and where each approach fits best.
Installation details
Indirect-light cutaway drawings, ceiling solutions, drivers, and implementation logic.
Real-world projects
More than 120 examples showing structure, product choices, and the lighting thinking behind them.
Author bio
Janne Halttu author portrait

Author bio

Janne Halttu is the owner of LedStore.fi, a lighting entrepreneur, and the creator of LightingDesigner.io.

Janne has worked in lighting for more than 15 years and has been involved in well over a thousand real customer projects. His perspective combines built homes, product development, and lighting decisions that must also work in daily life.

This book was written for readers who want to understand home lighting design as a whole rather than only as individual luminaire choices.

1,000+ projectsReal homes, renovations, and lighting solutions from practical customer cases.
Product development includedThe book connects products, installation, and the final lighting outcome.
Same thinking as the appThe LightingDesigner.io planner and the book support the same clear workflow.
Contents

Contents

Good lighting is not only about lamps. It is about comfort, safety, and atmosphere.

Contents

  • Preface
    • Purpose of the book and who it is for
    • Why lighting is important
    • Finnish special characteristics in lighting
  • Quick guide to lighting design
    • 1. Basic principles
    • 2. Technical checklist
    • 3. Lux recommendations (interior spaces)
    • 4. Light types and applications
    • 5. Control and automation
    • 6. Design stages
    • 7. Quick checklist for different spaces
    • 8. Lighting renovation
  • Part I: Lighting Basics
    • 1. The role of light in everyday life
      • Requirements for seeing
      • The relationship between daylight and artificial light
      • The effect of lighting on alertness and mood
    • 2. Technical basics of lighting
      • Lumen, lux and candela
      • Lumens in practice
      • Ceiling height matters
      • Beam angle and light distribution
      • Practical applications of beam angles
      • Recommended values for different spaces
      • Color temperature (Kelvin) and creating ambience
      • Color Rendering Index (CRI) and light quality
      • IP ratings
    • 3. Light types and their applications
      • LED strips
      • Spots and downlights
      • Panel lights
      • Pendant lights
      • Track lights
      • Wall lights
      • Outdoor lights
      • Summary: Light types and applications
    • 4. Control and dimming
      • TRIAC - Traditional dimming
      • 0/1-10 V dimming
      • DALI
      • KNX
      • Zigbee
      • Wi-Fi
      • Bluetooth
      • RF (Radio Frequency)
      • Matter - The protocol of the future
      • Tuya
      • Philips Hue
      • HomeKit, Google Home and Alexa
    • 5. Energy and sustainability
  • Part II: Design Principles
    • 1. Needs
    • 2. Lights and layered lighting
      • General lighting - the basic light of the space
      • Task lighting - lighting for practical activity
      • Accent lighting - directing attention
      • Mood lighting - the creator of comfort
    • 3. Lighting control
    • 4. Technology
      • Zigbee, BLE, Wi-Fi and Matter
      • DALI and KNX
      • Group driver or light-specific control?
    • 5. Structures and implementation
      • Available ceiling height
      • Existing installation depth
      • Ceiling drops for indirect light
  • Part III: Room-by-room design
    • Room-specific lighting recommendations
    • Entrance hall and corridors
    • Kitchen and dining area
    • Living room
    • Bedroom
    • Children's room
    • Home office
    • Staircase
    • Bathroom
    • WC spaces (guest and make-up)
    • Guest WC
    • Make-up WC
    • Utility room
    • Sauna
    • Terrace and yard
      • Accent lighting on the terrace
      • Accent lighting for nature
      • Outdoor step lighting
      • LED strip as path lighting
      • LED strip as general lighting
      • Entrance lighting
      • Canopy lighting
      • Facade lighting
  • Part IV: Practical Implementation
    • 1. Installation instructions
    • 2. Power supplies and drivers
    • Types of drivers
    • Driver power calculation
    • Control systems
    • 3. Human Centric Lighting and daylight simulation with smart home systems
    • Final summary - what we learned about lighting design and how to proceed
    • Appendices
      • Indirect lighting along the wall from inside the ceiling
      • Indirect lighting along the wall from inside the ceiling + space for a curtain track
      • Indirect lighting via the ceiling on top of a board
      • Indirect lighting via the ceiling on top of a board + space for curtains
      • Indirect lighting via the ceiling on top of a board toward the center of the room
      • Reference project information
      • References in the text
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Who is this book for?

The book is written for homeowners, builders, renovators, interior designers, electricians, lighting sales teams, and lighting professionals.

Is the book available in English?

Yes. Lighting Design in Practice is currently available in English as a Kindle edition and paperback edition.

What does the book cover?

The book covers lighting basics, LED strips, lux targets, smart lighting controls, indirect-light details, and room-by-room home lighting design.

Do I need the app as well?

No, but the book and LightingDesigner.io work especially well together when you want to move from principles to floorplans and product choices.

Move from the book straight into planning

Move from the book straight into planning

Use the book as a standalone guide or continue in LightingDesigner.io, where you can test the same ideas with rooms, luminaires, products, and lux values.

Buy Kindle: Lighting Design in Practice Buy paperback: Lighting Design in Practice Open app
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